The Strange-Looking Sri Lankan Souvenir All Foodies Will Love

It looks a little odd, but this wooden contraption will allow culinary-inclined travelers to bring a taste of Sri Lanka to their home kitchens.

So it looks a little odd—but this wooden contraption will allow culinary-inclined travelers to bring a true taste of Sri Lanka to their home kitchens. We know, we know: What exactly is this thing? It's a string hopper mold, used to make rice flour noodles—the key component of a Sri Lankan breakfast called, unsurprisingly, "string hoppers."

This is how it works: The dough is pressed through tiny holes in the bottom of the mold, and the resulting strands are arranged into circular pancakes. The pancakes are then steamed and enjoyed with curry, dhal, and spicy coconut sambol. It’s a fiery, fragrant breakfast of champions. Plus, the mold’s a surefire conversation starter to boot.

String hopper molds can be found in general stores and kitchen supply shops island-wide. This model was purchased for 375 Sri Lankan rupees—or just under $3.